Colorado Colorado Springs vs Western Washington: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Colorado Colorado Springs runs $9,998 less per year out of state; Western Washington graduates 21 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Colorado Colorado Springs if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Colorado Colorado Springs lists $9,998 less per year in tuition and housing than Western Washington.
Lean Western Washington if…
- You would be in-state: Western Washington is $426 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Colorado Colorado Springs.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Western Washington graduates 21 percentage points more of its students than Colorado Colorado Springs.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Western Washington graduates earn about $7,910 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Western Washington is $1,500 lower than at Colorado Colorado Springs.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Colorado Colorado Springs | Western Washington |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,712 | $9,286 — Western Washington leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $20,492 — Colorado Colorado Springs leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $27,853 |
| Room & board | $12,278 — Colorado Colorado Springs leads on this measure: lower room & board | $14,915 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $21,990 — Colorado Colorado Springs leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $24,201 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $32,770 — Colorado Colorado Springs leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $42,768 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Colorado Colorado Springs | Western Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 45% | 66% — Western Washington leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $54,659/yr | $62,569/yr — Western Washington leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,000 | $18,500 — Western Washington leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 37% | 30% — Western Washington leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Colorado Colorado Springs | Western Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 97% | 93% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 11,213 | 14,651 |
| Where it is | Colorado Springs, CO | Bellingham, WA |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Colorado Colorado Springs | Western Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | RMAC | GNAC |
| Head coach | Dwight Sanders | Sheryl Gilmore |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Colorado Colorado Springs | Western Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Colorado Colorado Springs
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Western Washington
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Colorado Colorado Springs vs Western Washington: common questions
- Is Colorado Colorado Springs or Western Washington cheaper?
- On published price, Colorado Colorado Springs is cheaper — about $32,770 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $42,768 at Western Washington. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Colorado Colorado Springs or Western Washington?
- Western Washington, at 66% against 45% at Colorado Colorado Springs (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Colorado Colorado Springs and Western Washington offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Colorado Colorado Springs and Western Washington accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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